*ew lIOfvTUS JAMAICKN^SIS. i;"9 



Tlae ''mjit is fll cf an acrid inicc, whirh is frequently made vi.-c of in rr.aking pimc'.. 

 To the iipcx of the fruit grrnv,'; ;i \iut v: tiie size aii^i shape of a bjres Lidiiey, fiut mnrh 

 krj^c-r at the euu whicri is ext the f/mt than at dit; oilier. Tiie shell ;s very hard ; 

 and the kerne), which is the fme.st rut ui the warki, ly covered with a thin filiri. Be- 

 t\veen this.antl the bheU is lodged a tiiiik, blatkisli, ij;f!amniiu)ic ijoror, of iuch a caurlic 

 nature in tlie frtsh nut?, ihat, if the hps chanct to, touch it,, bifsttrs v/ijj iruinediEtCiy 

 follow. The fruit is said to fee good in disorders of the, stomach ; the juice of wh'ch 

 cuts tlie thick lough huinoiirs, whicli o!xs_lruct the free ciri ulaiion of the blond, Q.i:d 

 ths removes the conipiaint. Tiiis j'.ilte, exprcs:>ed and ierniented, makes a fine roiigL 

 wine useful viliere the viscera, or aoiid system has..bec;a relaxed. It does noz liinve ia 

 iiifh mouiilairis. 



b* 



Tiiis tree and fruk are 9. well lir. own in ,(^^leriril, especially in Brasil and in Jamaica, 

 that they need no pmLicular descriptic!>. The stone of this apple appears before ttis 

 fruit it:.elf, growi-ng at the end, in ihe sliape of a kidney, as big as a walnut. Some cf ' 

 tlie fruit are all red^ ,soine a\\ yellow, and some mixed with both r-ed and yellow, zrA 

 others all white, of a very pleasant tiiste in general ; but there is -a. great variety, as 

 some more sharp or tart, sonie like the tas-te of ctierries,. others very rough like urihpc; 

 apples, but most of them sweet and pleasant, ant! generally goes off with a reslrino'encif 

 or stipticity upon the tf^ngue^ which proceetis from its tough fibres that rtm Jong.*xy 

 through the fruit ; when cut with a knife, it tucnsas black as ink. There are sorae 6i 

 the fniiD bigger than others, but the generality of tiieia are as big and mndi of th.2 

 shape of f r^^nch pippins, aiitl Jiiake u:i e-sceltent cyder or wins, 3, havaag a larga 

 orchard ^f about three hundred trees, after the market was glutted with them^ distilled 

 a spirit from tliem f;ir exceeuiii^ an-ack, rain, or bmndy, of which they made an aC- 

 mirafclf .punch, that would prov(,ke urine powerfully. The flowers are very small, and. 

 grow in tufts, of a carnsition colour, and very odoriteroijs. The leaves much rsiembli 

 the English wabuit-tree Ieav.es in shape and si^ieil, and are as effectual in old ulcers, 

 cleansing aiui hPuling them, beiiio detooted, and the ulcers washed wjtii-it. The nuS 

 hath, a very caustic oil, lo. ged in little partitions. betwixt the two outward coats, which 

 will flanie violently when put in the fire. The oil cures the hsrpss, ca>7cerous and ma- 

 lignsnt. ulcers aljoiniuing with rotten flesh.; it also kills worms in- ulcers and chigoes ; 

 it taHes.away freckles and liver spots, but it draws blisters, therefore must be cautiously 

 mafie use of ; and some make issues with them ; it aLso takes away coins, but you musS 

 have- a very good defensive round the corn, to prevent inflannng.-the part. The inside 

 IvCrnel is very pleasant to eat, when young and before the fruit is come to ripene.'is, 

 exceeding' any walnut ;, and when older and drier, roasted, they eat -scry pleasant, ex- 

 ceeding pistachia-nuts or almonds, and, ground up .with .cocoa, make an excellent- 

 chocolate. The gun* of this tree is very white and transparent like glass. Jt hath been 

 observed, that poor dropsical ijaves tiiatJiave liad the liberty to go into a cashew-walk, 



and eat what cashews they please, and of the.roastcd nuis, have been recovered. 



These trees are of quick growth : I luve .planted the nut, and the young trees have- 

 produced fruit in two years time, and will keep bearing once a-yearfor forty or fifty- 

 years, nay, ^hundred, liy \\ hat I can understand, jf no accident attends them. Majny 

 ate now flourishing in Jamaica that were ])lanted when the Spaniards had it in posses^ 

 ion ; for. the wood is exceiient strong and lasting timber. Barham, p,. 33. 



Some planters roast the ripe fruit at a iiio, and slice one or two into a howl of punca,^^ 



fogiveit-a pleasant flavour. "EiiSSr- 



